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Technology Stocks : Dell Technologies Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jbn3 who wrote (136114)	7/9/1999 11:54:00 PM
From: TechMkt	Respond to of 176387

Dell aiming to boost service in real time Company pulled a surprising $1 billion in service revenues last year -- and now it's after more. By John Madden, PC Week July 9, 1999 11:59 AM PT Dell Computer Corp. is getting serious about services, and is quietly growing the business through a series of new packages. Dell (Nasdaq:DELL), known more for its direct marketing prowess than its services expertise, will begin announcing next month several new offerings that expand upon its current slate of services. For starters, the company is working on a real-time online chat service that will link customers and technicians. Although company officials last week declined to offer specifics, they said the first phase of the project is due this fall. Despite the moves, Gary Cotshott, vice president of Dell services in the Americas, cautioned that it's not indicative of a major services push. Instead, the Round Rock, Texas, company wants to implement a "simple, straightforward strategy" to shore up its support and services for Dell products in conjunction with its core hardware business. "We know exactly who we are. We're not trying to be something that we're not," Cotshott said. Tech support boost While he declined to specify how much Dell is investing in services, Cotshott said the company is increasing the number of technical support employees and consultants. He added that Dell, which will bring in more than $1 billion in services revenue this year, wants to make further inroads into server/storage consulting, standardization and implementation services and boost online support. Robert Riazzi, director of customer service marketing at Dell, said corporate customers often ask for Dell services and hardware in complete packages. The company over the last year has been preparing to take its services strategy to market, adding to its roster of more than 3,000 technical support employees. Dell provides enterprise services through Unisys Corp. (NYSE:UIS), of Blue Bell, Pa., and despite Dell's new internal emphasis on services, Cotshott said that relationship would continue. A spokesman for Unisys said its relationship with Dell will actually expand to include more customization.